The Top Ten Stand Up Comedians of 2020!
2020 Stand Up Comedian of the Year
It’s our seventh annual readers choice comedy awards– and it’s 2020, the year of the pandemic. It’s a year of zoom shows, outdoor comedy and closed theaters and clubs. A year of loss and closures. And yet, despite all that, thanks to incredible creativity and some production completed prior to the pandemic, it was a year packed with great comedy. So even though we put an asterisk in our comedy awards this year, the comedians, specials, albums, movies, tv shows and books we covered are as strong as any other year. In other words, there is no asterisk.
This year, two of our top ten comedian nominees return for back to back nominations from last year. Four of the comics in our list are appearing in our top ten for the very first time. Eight are returning. Two have been champions.
In 2014, you picked Bill Burr as the Stand Up Comedian of the Year. In 2015, Nate Bargatze was your runaway favorite, in 2016 you overwhelmingly chose Jim Jefferies as the #1 comedian and in 2017 you chose Judah Friedlander as the greatest comic that year. In 2018, Bert Kreischer was voted comedian of the year. And last year, in 2019, it was Shane Gillis who overwhelmingly won your vote.
This year we chose our top ten stand up comedians looking at their work and their influence specifically this year, in 2020. We took into consideration who put out stand out specials, who pulled in gigantic audiences, who had a big tour, and who most embodied comedy in 2020. Some of our nominees had a gigantic leap forward in 2020, others had put out multiple projects, and still others were selected on the basis of one extraordinary achievement. Popularity and celebrity were not part of our criteria, and for those ready to complain about who is missing– this is not necessarily a list of the ten best performers working today, but rather ten comedians who had the best collective accomplishments and performances in 2020.
And finally, we did not include the Hall of Famers- the comedians who have received lifetime achievement awards, or a Mark Twain award. They’ve made it into the hallowed halls of comedy icons. Consider them winners already. Chappelle is already a comedy god, so we’re giving everyone else a shot at the W.
Stay tuned every day for our picks for Top 10 Specials of the Year, the 10 Best Books of the Year, the 10 Best Albums of 2020, the Top 10 Movies and TV Shows in comedy and our annual look at the best comedy clubs in North America, and so much more.
Also don’t forget to vote on the best of everything in comedy this year– books, albums, specials, stand up of the year and more! And read all of our 2020 year in comedy coverage here.
If you don’t like our picks, you can write in your own.
Read all the nominees below, voting opens December 30th.
COLIN QUINN
It’s back-to-back banner years for Colin Quinn. Nominated in 2019 for surviving a heart attack, releasing a killer hour, and getting married, Quinn has upped his game in 2020. First of all, no heart attacks, and that’s great. Also, he wrote a brilliant book, “Overstated: A Coast to Coast Roast of the Fifty States.” And then when the world shut down, Colin Quinn didn’t waste any time. He signed on with HBO Max to create the definitive docu-comedy special of 2020, “Colin Quinn & Friends, A Parking Lot Comedy Show.” CQ&FAPLC was not only funny, and heartfelt, it was also beautifully shot and perfectly reflected this moment in time. Quinn conceived the special, cast it, headlined and directed. Colin Quinn is New York comedy- we would put him on the flag if we had one. The most thoughtfully funny comedian performing today, and consistently at the top of the game, this is Colin’s fourth trip to the top 10 and its hard to imagine anyone funnier. Book. Directed a special. Launched a trend with a single joke. Colin Quinn is a comedian of the year for staying brilliant, staying funny and always doing it his own way.
MARIA BAMFORD
Bamford has done it again! It’s another year at the top for Maria– this is her third nomination for comedian of the year. One of the most original performers in modern comedy, Bamford is a national treasure. And she took the challenges of 2020 as a personal challenge to continue creating in every way she could. In 2020, Maria released a jaw dropping and hilarious comedy special. Titled “Weakness is the Brand,” it’s one of this year’s funniest. Bamford’s self help audiobook, “You Are (a Comedy) Special: A 15-Step Self-Help Guide to Forcibly Force Yourself to Write and Perform a Full Hour of Stand-Up Comedy” is part memoir, part life coach sesh, all glorious. And she has been one of the hardest working and most visible comedians during the shut down, constantly jumping online to connect with fans. Maybe you caught her 2-hour livestreaming comedy show “Help Me, Help You Help Me” a weird sort of comedy group therapy series. Or did you see the Maria Bamford “Vindicated” hour with afterparty included? Everyone’s talking about her Season 4 “Big Mouth” character, and even her merch is special. Bamford is hard to beat in 2020. For her originality, for her creativity, and her ability to make us laugh till we cry, Maria Bamford is a comedian of the year.
BERT KREISCHER
It’s Bert Kreischer’s third time in our top ten list, (he won in 2018) and it may be his biggest year yet. Kreischer’s career has never been hotter and he was not going to take 2020 lying down. It’s almost like the thought of a day off was just terrifying for Bert. Pre-pandemic, Kreischer’s star was hitting that sweet spot. With his giant tour, and tourbus, Kreischer was in a moment most comics dream of. The need to slow down is the premise of a Netflix reality show filmed in January 2020 titled “The Cabin with Bert Kreischer”. And it’s a legit Netflix hit. Then just as the pandemic lock downs started, Kreischer dropped his latest stand up special, “Hey Big Boy” on Netflix. He had to postpone a lot of his 2020 Berty-Boy tour dates but instead of taking some downtime, he filled in his summer dates with a massively successful “Summer Nights” drive in tour. The shows became raucous parties with tailgating and tailgate soaktubs, and furniture and pregame cookouts. And he’s squeezing in multiple hit podcasts in between all that work. “Bertcast” is still red hot, and then there’s “2 Bears 1 Cave” with Tom Segura, and “BillBurt Cast” with Bill Burr, and a full time schedule of guest appearances on other people’s podcasts. And Kreischer’s the only comic nominated for comedian of the year who has his own line of “house shoes.” Now that’s cred. For his relentless drive to make America laugh till they puke, Bert Kreischer is a comedian of the year.
DOUG STANHOPE
Doug Stanhope put out two major projects this year. His new special “Dying of a Last Breed” is full of everything you love about Doug. His fearless, no-bullshit mix of indulgence and darkness, as well as his penchant for calling it like he sees it are in full force in the hour. There’s no politeness here, there’s no crowd-pleasing– you wont find a pander anywhere in a Stanhope project. Stanhope’s performances are loaded with critique on the awfulness of the larger part of humanity, rivaled only by his commentary on his own inner demons. Both make you laugh, and feel uncomfortable at the same time. And those of us who love Stanhope have much to enjoy in 2020, Doug also released his third memoir, created as an audiobook. “No Encore for the Donkey” introduces us to a year of Doug’s life that you could compare to the Price is Right yodeling cliffhanger game. Everything is on the way up until you hit that cliff and then…. its a long terrifying fall. Stanhope proudly displays not only his wounds but also his transgressions, sharing some low moments in the dual interests of keeping shit real, and entertaining you. For his unending supply of ‘you can’t make that shit up’ stories and experiences, and of course for his unique way of handling crisis moments, and always inviting us along for the ride, Doug Stanhope is a comedian of the year.
JIM GAFFIGAN
Jim Gaffigan has been having explosive years creatively for as long as we can remember and he was not going to sit 2020 out. As the year began, he was collecting his fifth Grammy nomination in seven years– this one for his 2019 special “Quality Time.” And then over the summer of 2020, barely a year after the release of Quality Time, Gaffigan released yet another special- this one almost two hours long. “The Pale Tourist” on Amazon Prime is actually two specials- one filmed in Canada, and the other in Barcelona. He was also the first to announce he was doing a drive in tour after Covid rules shut down clubs and theaters in March, and then spent the summer touring for Fords, Toyotas and Chryslers. This year he added to his list of distinctions the honor becoming the first comedian on Pandora to cross 1 billion streams– just think about that– ONE BILLION STREAMS! . His acting career continues to take off- Gaffigan appeared in two movies- Tesla and Most Wanted, and he just finished filming a dual role for a sci-fi comedy drama feature. Meanwhile, Gaffigan continues to keep an active social media spotlight on his big family, he opines weekly on CBS Sunday Morning, and shocked his fanbase with a sudden outburst this year of political conscience on social media, after spending his entire career avoiding political divisiveness. Two comedy specials, multiple movie roles, a billion streams, and a viral outburst? Now that’s a great year. For being consistently one of the funniest people on the planet to a massive and broad audience base, and for absolutely losing his shit this year at his fan base and surviving it, Jim Gaffigan is a comedian of the year.
EDDIE PEPITONE
Eddie Pepitone might not have as long of a list of projects as some of the other nominees, but who needs 5 projects when you have one perfect special? Pepitone’s “For the Masses” is a truly special, special. We knew it was in the top ten back in June when it first released, and that it would not be possible for anyone to knock him off our list. Pepitone is a powerhouse on stage, delivering outrage and then reigning it in, taking the audience through the ringer with him. Pepitone is in peak form, and “For the Masses” is a Masterpiece. And catch his twice weekly “From the Bunker” shows on Instagram Live. For creating one of the best hours of content you’ll find anywhere, Eddie Pepitone is a comedian of the year.
LESLIE JONES
It’s a huge year for Leslie Jones, career-wise, and her first time nominated as one of our top 10 comedians. Jones is a goddamn tasmanian devil on stage and she’s bringing her blast of energy to every project she tackles. Her new hour special, “Time Machine” is out on Netflix and packed with laughs. Leslie hosts her own game show- the updated version of popular shopping competition “Supermarket Sweep.” She’s on Time Magazine’s 2020 list of the 100 Most Influential People, and Jones is super hot on Twitter, going viral for her rants and critiques of various newscasters. Jones is unstoppable and 2020 is just the beginning. For her energy, for her commitment to her character, and for making America laugh every time she shows up and speaks, Leslie Jones is a comedian of the year.
BILL BURR
This is Burr’s fourth trip to our Top Ten Comedians of the Year list- he won our first ever Comedian of the Year award in 2014. He didn’t put out a new special this year, he did receive his first Grammy Award nomination this year for 2019’s Bill Burr: Paper Tiger. And he’s been pretty busy with other projects. Like starring in a major motion picture directed by Judd Apatow. Burr proved once again that he can really act, crushing a co-starring role in the King of Staten Island with Pete Davidson and Marisa Tomei. He hosted Saturday Night Live this season, a strong sign that your career is on fire. And he delivered an internet stopping hilarious monologue that night, provoking discussion and arguments in a way that only a handful of comedians can. And he did this mid-pandemic, when, let’s face it, comedians are rusty and have few opportunities to work out new material. This seven and a half minute snapshot of the world according to Burr was one of the most memorable moments of the 45th-46th seasons. On 12/11, Bill reprised his role as Migs Mayfeld, in an episode of The Mandalorian that was built around his character, drawing raves from critics and fans for his dramatic acting and had fans calling for a spin-off. Burr also released season 4 of the animated series he created, “F is For Family” on Netflix, and he’s staying current with two giant hit podcasts- “Bill Burr’s Monday Morning Podcast,” and “The Bill Bert Podcast.” And if that’s not enough, Burr became a father, again. Big year. Huge. For getting the whole world talking while making us laugh, crushing it in the podcast world, and so much more, Bill Burr is a comedian of the year.
TIM HEIDECKER
Wow what a year for Heidecker, creatively. First, in the spring, Tim puts out “Beef House” on Adult Swim with long time collaborator Eric Wareheim. It’s a really funny parody of 80’s and 90’s sitcoms starring the duo and Jamie Lynn Seigler (Meadow Soprano). In the summer, he pops out conceptual album “Fear of Death.” Then along comes fall, with two comedy projects that just crush. In October, Tim saved us all just in time as we were staring to feel that ‘winter’s coming’ depression, by releasing his first stand up special titled, “An Evening with Tim Heidecker.” It’s a parody special that takes the piss out of Stand Up Comedy, and its hilarious. Then on November 8, Showtime released Moonbase 8, a series that Heidecker co-created, co-wrote and co-stars in along with John C. Reilly and Fred Armisen. In a year flooded with people trying to be funny about space (we’ve had at least 4 comedy series make the attempt), Moonbase 8 is the hands down stand out. For his creative range, for being so original and weird and funny, and for delivering four slam dunks in 2020, Tim Heidecker is a comedian of the year.
SARAH COOPER
Sarah Cooper’s career exploded in 2020, making her seem like an overnight sensation, when actually she’s been putting in the work for years. But there’s no denying that 2020 was the year the world got to really “see” Cooper. Her break out into becoming a household name was directly tied to events of 2020 and she will forever be a part of the time capsule of a year we won’t ever forget. Her lip syncs of President Trump took off, and everyone was sharing them. She was exploding on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok with a younger generation while at the same time, older generations couldn’t get enough of her. Late night was showing her videos, the morning shows were showing her videos, afternoon talk couldn’t get enough of Sarah Cooper, and not just for those viral videos. Many of our top comedy in 2020 was created prior to the pandemic, but Sarah’s explosion of fame enabled her to be one of the few comedians who announced a new project, filmed it and then released it all in 2020. Her new Netflix Special, Everything’s Fine is a tremendous debut. She’s won a ton of awards already, this year. And Cooper is not a flash in the pan, she is here to stay- CBS is developing a series based on Cooper’s 2018 book. For igniting the nation, for racking up millions and millions of views, for creating new ways to perform comedy, and for being hilarious Sarah Cooper is a comedian of the year.
